Ice-Drinking Chamber

On their way to the Ice-Drinking Chamber, the five people, including the Daoist Black Shoes, traveled together, divided into three distinct groups.

The slight camaraderie formed from their previous mutual assistance through two perilous checkpoints was far from enough to make these Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, who were accustomed to the unpredictable nature of the cultivation world, lower their guard in the slightest.

Chu Yanran stood close to the Daoist Black Shoes, who felt a delicate orchid fragrance permeate his senses. He closed his six senses and listened intently as the beautiful woman spoke, "Fellow Daoist Black Shoes, thank you for your trouble with the matter I mentioned earlier."

The Daoist Black Shoes did not answer, but instead looked deeply at Chu Yanran. This beautiful woman was indeed formidable. Yue Lan had put a lot of effort into the methods he used on her, but she still saw through them easily.

After seeing through her scheme, Chu Yanran was able to remain calm and not lash out, truly showing she was destined for great things.

"What a pity," the Daoist Black Shoes sighed inwardly. Even with his experience, he hadn't seen many female cultivators as outstanding as Chu Yanran.

Female Daoists like her are usually devoted solely to cultivation, without any distractions. Even if they were to form dao companion, it would mostly be to curry favor with a highly accomplished cultivator.

Putting everything else aside, given her aptitude, a single Golden Core resource is all she needs. While precious, high-level cultivators are still willing to part with it.

However, Chu Yanran entrusted her heart entirely to Qi Buxiu in the eyes of Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

To outsiders, the difference between "valuing relationships and loyalty" and "being unwise" is simply a matter of different ways of saying it.

In this light, Chu Yanran truly deserves the title of the number one female cultivator in Cloud Horn Prefecture. She is not only strong but also extraordinary. Unless there are major changes in this humble place in Cloud Horn Prefecture, it is likely that no one in the past five hundred years could compare to her.

"Don't worry, Madam Qi, I, Black Shoes, will understand." Compared to before entering the Mountain-Viewing Cave, Daoist Black Shoes was now much more eager. After speaking with Chu Yanran, he glanced at Yue Lan almost imperceptibly. The latter was indeed a good opponent, but that was all.

"Who would have thought that Chu Yanran could actually produce three more bushels of Illusory Gold Sand? If Yue Lan doesn't die, who will?!"

The two whispered to each other. Lang Yi, as always, rode his red cloud Spirit Artifact with an air of composure, keeping his eyes closed as he continued on his way. Yuan Feng, his mind filled with calculations, suddenly felt his wicked thoughts surge upon seeing this scene, making him feel two ounces heavier.

Only Yue Lan felt a pang of jealousy. "I was here first!"

If he were to face Qi Buxiu, he, as an elder of the Two Instruments Sect Battle Hall, could still look down upon him from a superior position.

But what if Chu Yanran really was abducted by the Daoist Black Shoes?

The latter is an unparalleled genius of Cloud Horn Prefecture, renowned even among the Marquis of Earl of Nan'an. To have progressed to such a level in less than a century of cultivation—how could Yue Lan possibly compare?

"Luckily, I had some tricks up my sleeve." Yue Lan was still thinking about his dirty schemes when he heard someone speak.

"We've arrived at the Ice-Drinking Chamber."

Lang Yi, who was walking at the front, could not hide his excitement. This trip to Mountain-Viewing Cave had gone much more smoothly than he had expected. Whether it was the Puppet Covered Bridge or the Dao Soldier Palace, none of the five people in the group had been injured or killed, which was extremely rare when the Moonlight Palace was open in the past.

Lang Yi didn't believe that the cultivation levels of their predecessors were not as high as theirs. It was simply because the Mountain-Viewing Cave had been opened more than ten times. Although the gains from it were decreasing, the basics had already been explored by their predecessors, who left behind their experience to benefit future generations.

Finally seeing the legendary Ice-Drinking Chamber, the abode of the Golden Core cultivators, the atmosphere among the three groups, which were already clearly divided, suddenly became even more tense.

Lang Yi was the first to feel a chill run down his spine, as everyone else was in pairs, while he was all alone, so he was bound to be a little nervous.

The old cultivator turned to the four cultivators behind him and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, let's be gentlemen first and then petty men. We've just entered this Baoshan, and we haven't even seen a glimpse of the treasures yet. It would be unwise to kill each other. There are some fortuitous opportunity in the Ice-Drinking Chamber. Let's obtain them first, and then rely on our own abilities, shall we?"

The four remained silent for a moment, until the Daoist Black Shoes finally spoke first, "Let's do as Senior Lang says. After the treasure appears, we'll rely on our own abilities."

Once someone agreed, the balance between the two sides was broken, and Lang Yi's proposal quickly gained the approval of everyone.

The Ice-Drinking Chamber is much larger than outsiders imagine, with at least a hundred rooms, each with a different purpose, but they all have one thing in common: only one person can enter each room at a time.

The precious spiritual items that were taken out by the cultivators who explored the Mountain-Viewing Cave were found in these rooms.

Strangely enough, although most of the array formations and restrictions in the Ice-Drinking Chamber were damaged, the layout of these rooms changed every time the Moonlight Palace opened.

Maps drawn by people in the past should not be taken as absolute truth; they should only be used as a reference.

The Daoist Black Shoes obtained a copy from Chu Yanran. This female cultivator's origins were unknown, but she always seemed to be able to find rare items that were difficult for ordinary Rogue Cultivator to obtain.

Once inside the Ice-Drinking Chamber, the others couldn't contain themselves any longer and went off in search of treasure.

The beautiful woman then spoke to the Daoist Black Shoes, saying, "Although the Ice-Drinking Chamber was where the Exalted Cultivator Guanyu rested in the past, it still contains many dangerous places for us Foundation Establishment cultivators. Fellow Daoist, please do not let your guard down and be extra careful."

The Daoist Black Shoes nodded in return. He knew what the beautiful woman was truly concerned about, and simply said softly, "Thank you, Madam Qi. Rest assured, once I find the Evergreen Vine Black Shoes, I will not let it fall into the hands of others."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yanran finally smiled. This stunning beauty did not linger long before the Daoist Black Shoes, and soon went off to search for treasures in the various rooms.

The Daoist Black Shoes was not in a hurry. He picked up the map in his hand and studied it carefully, but found nothing.

However, the handsome Daoist priest did not feel discouraged. He was a pure sword cultivator and had little knowledge of other arts besides combat. It was not surprising that he could not see anything special about him.

After carefully putting away the map, the Daoist Black Shoes went into the first room on the map. As soon as he entered the room, a light barrier appeared at the entrance, isolating the room from the outside world.

"As the ancients said, 'easy entry, strict exit,' it is indeed true." The Daoist Black Shoes said with surprise.

He hadn't been at the Dao Foundation stage for very long, but his skills were considerable, and he had even trained in other states before. This wasn't his first time entering the Golden Core Abode, but he was still somewhat surprised by the methods that the Exalted Cultivator Guanyu had casually set up in the Ice-Drinking Chamber years ago.

"Exalted Cultivator Guanyu truly deserves his reputation as a renowned array master in Shannan Circuit back then." Daoist Black Shoes disregarded whether there were any hidden treasures in the room and casually slashed at the newly formed light screen with his sword.

The expected bang did not reach the Daoist's ears; the sword light struck the light screen, causing only a ripple before subsiding.

Upon seeing this, the Daoist Black Shoes's handsome face showed surprise and doubt. He said in a doubtful voice, "The power of this formation seems to exceed the rumors by a considerable margin. If I want to get out, it will probably take me two days."

Regardless of how to get out, the Daoist Black Shoes turned back and sighed, "My luck isn't so good this time."